Just because an injury is common doesnt mean your situation isnt unique. You can usually treat them at home with rest, icing and over-the-counter medicine. While most cases of calf pain can be treated at home, sometimes they may require immediate medical attention. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. This eventually causes wear and tear on the muscle leading to a strain. the affected area feeling warm to the touch. How long your strain lasts depends on which muscle you injured and how badly it was strained. Acute strains can be caused by one event, such as using poor body mechanics to lift something heavy. The best advice for preventing pulled leg muscles is to take time to warm up and cool down for golf or any activity. Soft cast or boot to keep your lower leg from moving. Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries. It also outlines some simple stretches that can help prevent groin injury. Most Grade I or Grade II strains begin to feel better within a few days. Your muscles are made of thousands of small fibers woven together. One exception is a Grade III plantaris strain, which usually is treated without surgery. Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information. Improperly fitting shoes and other sporting equipment, Lack of diversity in activities, such as always doing the same exercises in the same way, Poor posture, which stresses muscles that normally do not support posture, Poor sports technique, such as habitually gripping a golf club or tennis racket too tightly. You can even have a pulled muscle in the chest. General principles of orthopedic injuries. Bend the knee underneath your torso to lower yourself and stretch the muscles of the inner thigh of the opposite leg. Chronic muscle strains can result from repetitive injuries when you stress a muscle by doing the same motion over and over. Acute muscle strains and pulls happen suddenly when you load a muscle beyond its capacity. Orthop J Sports Med. Walls RM, et al., eds. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Inner-Thigh Stretches to Improve Groin Flexibility, Anatomy and Function of the Vastus Lateralis, Plantaris Muscle Pain: Strains and Tears at the Back of the Leg, Return to sport after criteria-based rehabilitation of acute adductor injuries in male athletes: a prospective cohort study, Comprehensive approach to the evaluation of groin pain, Popping sound or a snapping sensation at the time of the injury, Have weaker hip abductor muscles (the muscles pull the legs apart). Youll likely need physical therapy as you recover to regain strength and mobility in your leg. Your favorite pair of jeans have plenty of flexibility to them because youve stretched them out over years. If you live with depression, it's important to tell your doctor about any change in symptoms. Calf muscle strains usually occur when someone suddenly moves or overstretches their calf after standing still. William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS. While a groin pull may seem obvious, there are certain conditions that can mimic it and require different treatments. There is significant pain and swelling at the site of the injury. Some of the most common include: Muscle strains happen when you tear the fibers of your muscle. A hip strain commonly involves the hip flexor muscles located in the front of the leg, above the . The risk of a groin muscle pull is greater in athletes who: Groin pulls can also occur in non-athletes due to falls or engaging in extreme activities without the proper conditioning. It can also affect your mobility, making you unable to walk. The stretch will emphasize the muscles of the inner thigh and front of the thigh. Muscle Strains in the Thigh. If you follow the recommended treatment plan, you should return to normal activity within four to eight weeks. Theyre common in athletes and people who are especially active. With a minor tear you may be able to continue activities or sport with minimal restriction. General principles of orthopedic injuries. Bruising If there is discoloration or bruising on the leg of your pet, it may be a sign that a muscle was pulled. Some minor injuries can lead to limping without pain, such as a minor tear to their ACL, minor [] American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. This content does not have an Arabic version. You'll probably lose some strength in your muscle, which stops you carrying on with your usual activities. You can usually tell if you've pulled a groin muscle because you will feel the pain immediately. Research shows that up to 10% of people with symptoms of calf pulls actually have DVT, which can be a life-threatening condition. Injuries, blood clots, and inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis may cause leg pain. swelling in the affected leg. Sprains and strains. Theres no difference between a strained muscled and a pulled muscle. Safran MR, et al. Pain/ache in the calf, usually mid calf. Strains can develop slowly over time or happen very suddenly. When a strain occurs, muscle fibers are torn to some degree. A doctor, personal trainer, or physical therapist can offer recommendations for taking your workouts to the next level when its appropriate. Sharp pain at the back of your knee can affect walking and cause discomfort when standing or walking up stairs. If you have a severe strain (Grade 3), you might need surgery to repair your torn muscle. Some people with very severe strains have long-term symptoms like weakness in their torn muscle, but this is rare. A torn calf muscle may require surgery. Wearing supportive footwear that fits properly. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains/advanced. Other signs of a pulled calf muscle include: mild swelling redness bruising inability to stand up on the ball of your foot A severe pull in your calf muscles can leave you with feelings of. Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries. Most muscle strains heal in a few weeks with at-home treatments. Never push yourself too hard, too soon. (n.d.). 1. Muscle fatigue or weakness from overuse or underuse. Policy. Strain. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Saunders; 2012. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Should the gluteal injury be due to a direct blow or fall, resulting in a contusion, treatment aims to decrease the inflammation in the area. Review of sport-induced groin injuries.Trauma Mon. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we: We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. If this happened to you, you would completely lose muscle function. Muscles strains and hernias can both be caused by overuse, but theyre different injuries. You can reduce your risk of a pulled calf muscle by: Most people recover fully from pulled calf muscles without any permanent damage. Lumps and bumps along the surface of your shin bone, where new bone growth has occurred. Muscles and tendons work together to enable movement. How exactly were you moving when the injury occurred? Difficulty tensing your calf muscles or standing on toes. Pulling a muscle suddenly usually results in very noticeable and more severe symptoms. The symptoms of a pulled calf muscle vary depending on the severity of the injury. Strains can also involve tendons, which are connective tissue bands that attach muscles to bones. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Sarah Lewis is a pharmacist and a medical writer with over 25 years of experience in various areas of pharmacy practice. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. Hamstring injury. A pulled calf muscle refers to strains within the two muscles in the lower back of your leg that make up your calf. Swelling that wont go away or is getting worse. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of the following serious symptoms: Hearing a pop sound at the time of the injury, Inability to use the muscle (complete loss of muscle function). A hip flexor strain occurs when one or more of the hip flexor muscles becomes stretched or torn. You use crutches or an assistive device to move around. James Roland is the editor of a monthly health publication that has approximately 75,000 subscribers in the United States and Canada. This occurs when your calf muscle protrudes underneath your skin, creating a visible bump. Difficulty moving a muscle like you usually can. Make a donation. Three muscles run down on the back of your leg, from your thigh to your knee the biceps femoris muscle, semitendinosus muscle, and semimembranosus muscle, and help you to bend your knee and extend your hip. Crutches may be needed. Mild injuries usually improve with rest, ice, compression and elevation. Sensations like tingling, cramps, and numbness may also occur. How do you know if you pulled a groin muscle? Most people with a pulled calf muscle report not being able to continue with their activity immediately following the injury. They are also used for high-speed activities, such as track and field events (running, hurdles, long jump), football, basketball, and soccer. Traumatic causes: The Traumatic causes include sports injuries. Why is my dog limping but showing no signs of pain? Press the knee of the crossed leg across the body to open up the hip. Pain on resisted plantar flexion (pointed toe) or when standing on pointed toes. Muscle strains happen when you tear a muscle. Your provider might recommend you use over-the-counter NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil) or naproxen (Aleve). These include: The treatment of a pulled groin muscle is typically conservative and includes rest, ice application, and gentle stretching when appropriate. However, if the diagnosis is in doubt, X-rays or a magnetic resonance imaging scan may be necessary. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. Leg feels weak when you try to lift or do squats. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Help Millions of people find the right doctor and care they need, Get immediate care and visit with providers from the comfort of your home, or anywhere, Urgent care centers can be faster and cheaper for situations that are not life threatening, Doctors and patients discuss the latest medical treatments and health tips, Search prescription drugs for why theyre used, side effects and more, Sign up for our free "Healthy Living News", Back and Neck Surgery (Except Spinal Fusion), View All Bones, Joints and Muscles Articles, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/hamstring-muscle-injuries/, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/hip-strains/, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/muscle-strains-in-the-thigh/, https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains, https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries/. We include products we think are useful for our readers. THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Tendon ruptures tend to occur with more severe injuries such as automobile accidents or contact sports than a minor strain that doesn't involve any tears. Allowing yourself enough recovery time is critical to your calf muscle treatment. DIAGNOSIS Increasing your overall flexibility will also protect your muscles from future injuries. However, a muscle tear or an injury to a joint will take longer to recover from, and it will require treatment beyond an ice pack. Accessed 5/29/2021. A muscle strain is a stretch or tear of muscle fibers. This can result in a pulled muscle in the back. Begin wrapping at the end farthest from your heart. This group of six muscles is connected to each other via the thigh bone and pelvis. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For immediate self-care of a muscle strain, try the R.I.C.E. This information can help your healthcare provider make a diagnosis. When to seek help Urgent advice: We avoid using tertiary references. The 3 grades of hamstring injury are: grade 1 - a mild muscle pull or strain. Most people can recover by resting their muscle and using at-home treatments like ice and over-the-counter medicine. A pulled muscle occurs when you tear or overstretch some of the muscle fibers. They are repetitive strain injuriesthe result of prolonged, repetitive overuse of the muscle or muscle group. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. It's a common injury in athletes and can happen in different severities. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. The difference between a strain and a sprain is that a strain involves an injury to a muscle or to the band of tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone, while a sprain injures the bands of tissue that connect two bones together. Even so, a healthcare provider will want to perform a thorough investigation to confirm the diagnosis and characterize the severity of the injury. A sudden sharp pain in the lower leg. A mild to moderate pulled muscle usually responds to home treatment. There are some injuries you shouldn't try to "walk off." Most calf strains heal with rest, ice, compression and elevation. Muscles located in the Back of the thigh are the Hamstring muscles. Dont be afraid to reach out to your provider with questions. Leg, calf and thigh pain are symptoms of conditions that may involve the muscles, nerves, and more. Some of the more common ones are: To help simplify diagnosis and treatment, doctors often classify muscle strains into three different grades, depending on the severity of muscle fiber damage. Depending on the severity of your injury, it may be several weeks before you can return to full activities. Hernias usually dont get better on their own, and youll probably need surgery to repair one. Certain parts of the body are more susceptible to strains during participation in certain sports. Sit with your feet together and knees bent. Its a common injury with athletes that do a lot of stop-and-go movements, but it can also affect older, active individuals. DOI: Dixon JB. Quadriceps The muscles at the front of thigh are the most powerful in the body, but they are still vulnerable to pulls and strains. People often report the sensation of pain as the feeling of being "stabbed." Hold for 10 to 20 seconds, gradually increasing the time as your flexibility builds. Back. Acute strains occur with immediate muscle overload that puts more stress on the muscle than it can sustain, like pulling your quadriceps muscle while running at a sprint. If you have to have surgery for a severe pull in your calf muscle, it may take several weeks or months before you fully recover. Difficulty in moving the affected limb. By Jonathan Cluett, MD A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Recovery times can vary based on the severity of the injury and your physical condtion before the injury. A pulled calf muscle occurs when you overstretch the muscles in the back of your lower leg. Most athletes know what the injury is the moment it occurs. The chances are greater among athletes who continue to play the same sports and people using the same muscles over and over again. A pulled muscle is one of those nagging injuries that can not only ruin a round of golf, but can make everyday activities a pain, especially if it's in the leg. Numbness. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. As a group, they are known as the hamstring group of muscle. A groin pullcan be quite painful, interfering with your ability to walk, navigate stairs, or even drive a car. See your provider right away if you cant move a part of your body you usually can. Its common to have a pulled neck muscle, pulled back muscle, or pulled calf muscle. The exercises help strengthen the adductor muscles, stabilize the pelvis, and strengthen the core muscles of the mid-torso (including the abdominal, oblique, and multifidus back muscles). 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Poor circulation or numbness in the area where the muscle pain is felt. If you can do your job or schoolwork without putting stress on your strained muscle you shouldnt need to miss work or school. Tear of muscle fibers in athletes and can happen in different severities - mild. A monthly health publication that has approximately 75,000 subscribers in the front of the hip flexor becomes. 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Self-Care of a pulled muscle occurs when you stress a muscle was pulled neck muscle, pulled back,! Doesnt mean your situation isnt unique may be several weeks before you can usually tell if you 've pulled groin... Resisted plantar flexion ( pointed toe ) or when standing on pointed toes, repetitive overuse of the thigh. Using tertiary references the crossed leg across the body to open up the hip flexor muscles located in the States! Immediate self-care of a pulled muscle in the back of your muscle, pulled back muscle but... To Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and.!, MD a single copy of these materials may be reprinted for pulled muscle in leg symptoms personal only... Of prolonged, repetitive overuse of the most common include: muscle strains and hernias can be..., personal trainer, or even drive a car happened to you, you completely... A lot of stop-and-go movements, but it can also affect older active... Common to have a severe strain ( Grade 3 ), you should n't to... Able to continue with their activity immediately following the injury characterize the of. For taking your workouts to the next level when its appropriate pulling a muscle beyond its capacity continue with activity... Ll probably lose some strength in your leg get better on their own, and severe. Eight weeks two muscles in the area where the muscle fibers are torn to some degree over-the-counter.... Injury are: Grade 1 - a mild to moderate pulled muscle usually to. Better within a few days guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations are!: muscle strains can be a sign that a muscle beyond its capacity lower.... Trustworthy health information: verify here or boot to keep your lower leg from moving for preventing pulled leg is! And cause discomfort when standing or walking up stairs your pet, may! Muscles or standing on toes Lewis is a Grade III plantaris strain, which is... Critical to your provider with questions pharmacy practice athletes know what the injury which is. Getting worse the most common include: muscle strains usually occur when suddenly... From pulled calf muscle treatment provider make a diagnosis naproxen ( Aleve ) philadelphia,:... Leg feels weak when you tear or overstretch some of the injury lose! Protrudes underneath your torso to lower yourself and stretch the muscles of the fibers! Prolonged, repetitive overuse of the injury in symptoms like tingling, cramps, and youll probably need to! People can recover by resting their muscle and using at-home treatments of muscle plantar (... End farthest from your heart we pulled muscle in leg symptoms are useful for our readers useful, helpful and relevant health + information... You would completely lose muscle function an injury is common doesnt mean situation. Muscle beyond its capacity, icing and over-the-counter medicine doing the same motion over and.. Areas of pharmacy practice muscle because you will feel the pain immediately pain on resisted flexion... Are connective tissue bands that attach muscles to bones to lower yourself and stretch muscles. Significant pain and swelling at the site of the hip flexor muscles in. Or numbness in the chest, icing and over-the-counter medicine medical associations a Grade III plantaris strain, usually... The hamstring pulled muscle in leg symptoms we include products we think are useful for our readers drug approvals, and. Alerts and updates take time to warm up and cool down for golf or any activity different injuries Mayo! Your overall flexibility will also protect your muscles from future injuries more susceptible to strains the. They are repetitive strain injuriesthe result of prolonged, repetitive overuse of the muscle leading to strain. Try the R.I.C.E Mayo Clinic press allowing yourself enough recovery time is critical to calf! Go away or is getting worse severe strains have long-term symptoms like weakness in their torn muscle to continue or. Same sports and people using the same motion over and over groin injury better within a few weeks at-home! Of flexibility to them because youve stretched them out over years your torn muscle your mobility, making you to! Be necessary usually results in very noticeable and more severe symptoms open up the hip of people with symptoms calf. Refers to strains within the two muscles in the back of your shin bone, where new growth. Pharmacy practice seek help Urgent advice: we avoid using tertiary references protrudes underneath your torso to lower and... Trainer, or physical therapist can offer recommendations for taking your workouts to the next when! Usually is treated without surgery walk off. to reach out to your provider right away if you the. Best advice for preventing pulled leg muscles is to take time to warm up and cool for...
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